‘Slippery Slopes: A Case Study of the Hybrid Forms and Ethical Implications of Reality Television Programs and Their Perception by Program-Makers and Participants.'

What is still at stake in the study of hybrid media products, like reality TV, is the need for critical concepts and tools that enable a comprehensive analysis that focuses on the constituent parts of the subject (production-text-audience) and that facilitates an astute evaluation of the possibilities and drawbacks of the practices that exist in the diversified domain of popular factual television. This paper makes an attempt to develop such a multifaceted approach towards the so-called game-doc, which is amongst the most complex and controversial types of reality television from an aesthetical, socio-political and ethical perspective. First, an eclectic qualitative content analysis (documentary and genre theory, semiotics, media and televi-sion studies) of different cases of reality television shows was carried out. Then, in-depth interviews were conducted with audiences individuals who were involved in the production of the several different cases(producers, executives, editors and participants). Finally, the findings of the textual and empirical analyses were integrated and compared.